The healthy dessert of your dreams. These chocolate covered yogurt clusters are so good and simple to make. They come together so quickly, and are a delicious treat to stock your freezer. Made with cashews, dates, yogurt, almond butter and your favourite protein powder to add a healthy protein component to the recipe.

These simple clusters are one of my favorite pantry recipes for healthy snacking! If you are finding yourself spending a lot of money on snacks and unpleased with the long list of ingredients they are made with, it’s time to make your own healthy snacks. It’s cheaper and healthier!

Using dates is the way to go. I love to use dates as a base in most of my snack balls, no-bake bars, or if I need a natural sweetener in a cookie or frosting. They are little morsels of natural sugar and a great alternative to refined sugars. You don’t need many dates to make something sweet!

I. LOVE. DATES. They are just one of those snack cabinet staples I can’t live without. In my quest to find healthier snacks, I have started buying more dates as I love to use dates as a base in most of my snack balls, no-bake bars, or if I need a natural sweetener in a cookie or frosting.

They are little morsels of natural sugar and a great alternative to refined sugars. You don’t need many dates to make something sweet!  I always have dates stocked in my pantry or freezer, as I love preparing easy desserts with them for  nourishing treats.

Dates are a great snack on their own and they are high in fiber, rich in antioxidants, great for heart health and they provide a little energy boost thanks to the natural sugars. They are little morsels of natural sugar and a great alternative to refined sugars.

The dried fruit has a caramel-like sweetness that can also help reduce cravings for sugary snacks. I’m always on the hunt though for creative ways to dress up my dates, and I just knew these cashew date yogurt clusters would be delicious!

Eating a few dates for a 3 p.m. sugar boost is good, but it can get a little boring, so I started to look for ways to jazz them up. There are lots of date-focused recipes on social media these days, but when I came across viral date clusters I knew I had to try it. And it did not disappoint!

As well as being really easy to make, these clusters are healthier than your average treat as they are made with wholesome REAL food ingredients. With the added protein powder it makes them more balanced than the traditional high carb recipe. Old fashioned baked recipes always had tons of sugar, carbs and fats. The new modern way it to add protein making the recipe more balanced and healthy.

Eating protein-rich foods has many health and fitness benefits, including:

Speeding recovery after exercise and/or injury.
Reducing muscle loss
Building lean muscle
Helping maintain a healthy weight
Curbing hunger

A well-balanced diet with proper ratios of macro nutrients (protein, healthy carbs and fats) provides all of the: energy you need to keep active throughout the day. nutrients you need for growth and repair, helping you to stay strong and healthy and help to prevent diet-related illness.

When you find your optimal balance and amounts of macro nutrients, you take a major step toward reaching your health goals and this balance has been improved in this recipe by the addition of healthy protein.

Hands down, this is one of the best, easiest, most delicious healthy dessert recipe that also doubles as a snack. Doesn’t get any better than that!

Cashew Caramel Yogurt Protein Clusters

These delightful and delicious cashew date clusters are the perfect sweet and salty treat. They are sweetened with dates, enrobed in chocolate, and made with only a few pantry ingredients.

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine Healthy Clean Eating

Keyword cashew caramel yogurt protein clusters, chocolate cashew protein clusters, clean eating candy, clean eating dessert or snack, healthy protein snack

Servings 12

Ingredients

Caramel Layer

• 1 1/2 cups dates, soaked 30 minutes and drained
• 1 cup thick Greek-style yogurt, plain or vanilla
• 1/4 cup almond (or any nut or seed) butter
• 1/4 cup protein or collagen peptides powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cashew Layer

• 1 cup cashews, roughly chopped

Chocolate Coating

• 1 1/4 cup chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• Flaky salt

Instructions

Caramel Layer

• Line a small tray or plate with parchment paper. Set aside.

  Add dates, yogurt, almond butter, protein powder and vanilla to a food processor and process until well combined.

  Spoon around 2 tablespoon dollops of the mixture onto the lined tray in 12-14 clusters depending on your preferred size.

Cashew Layer

• Add a teaspoon of chopped cashews on top of the caramel mixture.

  Freeze for at least 2 hours or overnight, until hardened. If they are not fully frozen when coating with melted chocolate they may fall apart.

Chocolate Coating

• Place chocolate chips and coconut oil in small dish and microwave with 30 second bursts stirring between each one until melted and smooth.

  Or use double boiler method - (pot of boiling water with a bowl resting on top) melt the chocolate chips and the coconut oil together.

  Remove the clusters and after checking they are firm and set, use two forks to hold each cluster and one by one, dip into the melted chocolate. Roll around using the forks to push it until fully coated, then place back on the parchment lined tray.

  Or hold each one with a fork over the melted chocolate and spoon it over letting the excess drip back into the bowl. 

  If there is chocolate left over simply drizzle over the clusters with a spoon.

  Sprinkle with flaky salt if desired, then chill until chocolate has set.

  Freeze again for 10-15 minutes, until set.

  Store in fridge for up to 1 week for freezer for up to 3 months. If fully frozen thaw for 10 minutes before eating so the inside is creamy.

Print Recipe

If you are looking for more delicious, healthy, protein-rich, no bake desserts and treats to help you reach your health, wellness and fitness goals, you will love my collection here: Blended Bites